Domestic and sexual violence among top human rights abuses in Dominica – US State Department

The State Department of the United States of America has reported that the most significant form of human rights abuse in Dominica includes domestic and sexual violence against women and children.

In its 2015 edition of the “Country Reports on Human Rights Practices,” released last Wednesday, the State Department said other rights problems included laws that discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and intersex (LGBTI) persons and discrimination against persons with disabilities.

In terms of rape and sexual violence, the report stated that law criminalizes rape but not spousal rape.

“Although the maximum sentence for sexual molestation (rape or incest) is 25 years’ imprisonment, the normal sentence was five to seven years, except in the case of murder,” the report said. “Police generally were not reluctant to arrest or prosecute offenders; whenever possible, female police officers handled rape cases. The Bureau of Gender Affairs collaborated with civil society organizations to assist victims of abuse.”

“Sexual violence and domestic violence cases were common, and the government recognized it as a problem,” the report continued.

The report stated that there are no laws in Dominica does not have any laws that specifically prohibit discrimination against persons with disabilities. “There is no legal requirement mandating access to buildings for such persons. Although persons with disabilities have the right to vote, polling stations were often inaccessible. Civil society stated that unemployment numbers were very high, in part, because employers refused to hire persons with disabilities,” it said.

Concerning acts of violence, discrimination, and other abuses based on sexual orientation and gender identity, the report stated that there are no laws prohibit discrimination against a person on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing, education, or health care.

“Consensual same-sex sexual activity for both sexes is illegal under indecency statutes,” the report stated. “The law also prohibits anal intercourse between male partners. The government reported rare enforcement of both statutes, and there were no instances of the law being enforced through October. Indecency statutes carry a maximum penalty of five years in prison, and consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adult men carries a maximum penalty of 10 years. No laws prohibit discrimination against a person on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity in employment, housing, education, or health care. There were no official reports during the year of violence against LGBTI persons, but anecdotal evidence suggested societal and employment discrimination against persons due to their real or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity was common in the socially conservative society (see section 7.d.). Furthermore, civil society organizations reported that LGBTI victims of violence or harassment avoided notifying police of abuse because of social stigma. There were very few openly gay men or lesbians.”

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Are they telling the world how much they have discriminate against Black men women and children and continue to do so. No yet they want to tell everybody what they are doing wrong. Can Satan correct sin? That’s how they are y the world is in so much confusion.

The truth is Dominicans know this is happening but you must keep your mouth shut. If you report one, you report all,we are Dominicans together. they don’t want to be corrected. Listen to them ,my girlfriend, my boyfriend, grown up people they cannot say my lover for they have no love. they don’t look for a wife they look for a servant. The Americans read about their conduct and behavior, what you can read is, the Americans should keep their mouth shut, it is our business. Your business is rotten and you stand to be corrected. Watch their language, my woman, she can either be your wife or my lady. So Caro when you meet a Dominican man run as fast and far away as you can.leave them for their own people.

The U.S is not saying that they do not have their own problems. they were just stating what they had observed in Dominica. So we now have to deal with it and either agree or disagree with their findings. As for me I have seen too many Da men beating their women like they own the lady. These abuse should be addressed and dealt with. Many women cannot leave since the man is the bread winner in the house. So if the Government was serious about female abuse both sexual and physical , they would create programs where men are made to be more sensitive towards women, and create more jobs for women. But the kind of guys we have in Government today are themselves questionable!!

It is what children are taught at home that determines the respect they will have for others. This decides how boys will treat children and women when they leave home. It all goes back to the example they saw in their parents when they were growing up.

When fornication is considered normal, one parent families are increasing, and many single mothers have live-in boyfriends (who sometimes sexually abuse their children), the problems are going to multiply.

Domestic and sexual abuse is a violation of human rights. Because so much of this behavior takes place in the homes it should not be a surprise that it is high on the list of human rights violations.

Biblical morals and values must be exemplified and taught in the homes, and preached in the churches.

Pre-marital abstinence and marital chastity should be encouraged by governments. How they would do this I do not know but it is their job to decide given the fact that sexual immorality spawns violence and crime. In a society where God’s sexual laws are not honored people regard their nation’s laws less and less.

I do not agree with Steve Foerster. The government can get involved. Prime Minister Trudeau and other PM’s spoke of wife abuse/rape. Some people stated they did not want the government in their bedrooms and to get out of their bedrooms. Eventually, the Law was passed pertaining to abuse/rape. This means if a partner says no, it is no. It also pertains to the male. It includes whether married, single or cohabiting, on a date/after a date, etc. When government enact Laws, they include every member of society with no exception and no discrimination. It is one of the best Laws which was passed to protect specifically women and now children. Later it was extended to child abuse/rape. This is where the government comes in, to enact such a Law.

Would you want a nation with no laws that govern who can do what, who can do it to whom, who can do it where, who can do it with consent, or without consent, can people under the age of consent do it, should there be an age of consent, what should the age of consent be, etc., etc., etc.,

Many people want laws that govern these different areas of sexual behavior. Those who want to follow the Christian teachings that go back 2,000 years want our governments to give us laws that are in harmony with – and support – the morals and values of the New Testament. We know this is a code of moral behavior that is conductive to mental and physical health, and produces stable and happy families.

Hey “REV” so what about Islam,buddhism, they don’t count as cornerstone of civilization too. After all christian is not a dominican religion, It was imported to the caribbean, and not in a nice way. Just as the Kalinago’s how well the christian treated them

What do you know about Christianity? Some of you have strange views about it as falsely taught. Pertaining to the non-Christians you spoke of, “When in Rome, you do as the Romans do.” The Law is for everyone who resides in the country. Muslim leaders wanted the Ontario government to legislate Sharia Law. The Premier of Ontario put his foot down, so-to-speak. He stated we already have a Law to serve the people – words to that effect. If every group want their own law what will happen? This cannot be. It is one Law for the people who reside in the country. Those who want their law should leave the country and return to their land-of-birth. Know this and do not ask again! Kalinago’s are Dominican nationals. They have the right to practice their culture which is their heritage; not violence. However, where it pertains to the Law of the land, there is and always will be one Law for every national. Get it!

The people you refer to as ”Christians” were not Christians in the New Testament sense of the word. They may in some cases have been religious but they were not “born again” believers in Jesus Christ, nor are you. If you are you would not try to bring down true Christianity, and discredit the people of God.

Most non Christian religions practice some form of marriage ritual, and recognize the institution of marriage. In some cases it may not have the principles of a Christian marriage which is one man and one woman united for life by a mutual public commitment in the presence of witnesses. When it does have these principles we are happy to recognize it as a valid marriage in the sight of God

Our observation has been that heathen religions centered around the worship of a false god or false gods do nothing to contribute to what we know to be civilization.

Jesus Christ is the Son of God, the only Savior, and the only way to heaven.

”Jesus said, … I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” (John 14:6)

Peter said ”Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)

Tell the US if they want to talk about human rights start with policemen and black people in the US. The brutalilty, the hate, the racism is so blatant. Everyone has smart phone these days and these videos have been bombarding the internet. Sort your backyard before going in other peoples.

This terrible racial disrespect and violence is happening in my own country (Canada), not just the USA.

What galls me the worst is when Obama tries to force his godless policies on smaller nations.

Did he nor say he would withhold financial assistance from any nation that did not grant gay rights?

A US ambassador while in a Caribbean nation called upon them to move ahead with gay rights.

While visiting African nations he has been known to publically admonish their rulers to drop their anti-buggery laws. When they politely rebuked him he told them it was time for them to step aside because “nobody should be president for life”.

We are appalled at the way some white police officers in the US and Canada have treated some black people, especially young black men. My wife and I watch this on television and weep. It is against everything we stand for. My ministry – LIVING HOPE MINISTRIES – opposes this with all that we have.

I would love to challenge Obama personally but respectfully. I would tell him like it is without watering down the truth. I am informing you, when I am through with him, he will cease his ungodly actions and expectations of especially smaller countries. Know that he will also get the wrath of God in it. This scares them.

If america is so bad with policemen killing black people and racism. Maybe all the black people, caribbean people should leave america and return home. Maybe everyone in dominican who has an american passport and have U.S. currency should burn it, as a form of protest. And we should ban to use of the racist dollar in dominica. Let see how well that will work, Ah god bless america domplin

@ Carol Bracchini, that was your experience, I empathize with you. Da can have two extremes when comes to foreign wives in their yard; utter respect and love like you are the gem or total scorn.( if you were not liked or didn’t care a hoot) ” to gain their love or acceptance”, Its like ‘how dare you come and take our groom away from us, and we had plans for him you spoiler’. Abuse is not limited to Dominica and societies which we calll” More civilized”, men do crazy things to women. A few years ago a man in the US had a girl captive for many years in his basement! And it wasn’t just the poor who were perpetrators but very rich ones too! Back to DA, some fellas do go overboard but sometimes family do get involved when there is abuse and it can get really ugly. People turn a bind eye unless they get real tired of her returning for more . I for sure am 100% Dmncan and have not put my hand on my wife, and I don’t intend to. While at home I never experienced that…

It is bad when people make blanket statements. One size does not fit all.

These terrible things are happening among white people in Canada and the USA as well. Yet not all people in Canada and the USA are criminals. By the same token I know There are also good people in Dominica and I don’t like it when they are blamed for the bad behavior of their fellow Dominicans.

All news is not bad news. DNO does a good job of sharing the success stories, and encouraging the young people to get their education to become the best they can be. This is the future of Dominica.

Oh Carol, I am happily married, I cook, wash, iron, shop, chores etc. I will never hit my wife, let alone spank my children. I am so sorry what happened to you, a real case of brutality but you are so wrong and i guess apologise to us men for this generalised comment in particular of Dominican men, as if they are the ones who abuse their wives and women. My father never abused my mother his wife, typical to Dominica we grew up in large family. My father was exemplary and a good and loving father to us all. I travel internationally and I see and come across cases of machismo, brutality of men to women and it is more pronounced statistically to that of Dominica. So you have generalised a serious case needed to be condemned but appear to have labelled all Dominican men. In your pain, I do understand your outcry but you seriously need to get help to put this in perspective. It is wrong and also unfair to label all or most Dominican men. God luck, God bless and guide as a single parent.

During the years I lived and worked in Dominica I rarely met a woman who had NOT been sexually abused and never a man who had not been physically abused . Keeping children silent while serving tea to the perpertrator because he is a man of power. Cover-ups at schools & collages. Shaming & blaming victims. Girls trading sex for phone Top-ups. Boys believing he becomes a man ONLY when he fathers a child he can not or will not care for. Two prominent church leaders outed for sexual abuse while the community turns up every Sunday to give these men their hard earned money & crawl around looking for attention. Why so much violence in the Caribbean? You DO NOT RESPECT YOUR OWN CHILDREN! You tell them they are ugly, stupid and worthless sinners. You choose ANYONE who has power over your own child. The heartbreak of these uncared for children turns to anger again & again. Who cares if they die or rot in prison? They just proving you right all along!

America have their own humans violations, blacks are being gun down practicality every week. They are friends with Saudi Arabia, one of the worst human rights violators in the world. George Bush should be charge with war crimes. America violates international law everyday, with their illegal wars, overcrowed prisons and voting rights abuse. The people live in a police state. When the US start follow international laws themselves than they can preach. Who is monitoring your human rights violations?

If there is one thing I know, the US is in no position to inform and dictate to a country about their Laws and lack of them. US never minds its own business, always pushing its nose in the business of other countries as if it is perfect; can’t see its flaws. Those who keep informed about the US know too well what type of country it is. Obama’s HHS mandate forces all employers to incorporate contraceptives, abortion pills sterilization in their insurance policies. Know that it does not exclude Christian enterprises. If they do not comply they must pay some thousands of dollars weekly. Consider how much it will amount to monthly and annually. Some have taken the Obama administration to Court. The hell-hole is the US. It is my feeling if God decides to purge the world, it will commence with the US. Too much immorality in that land including the abomination, so-called homosexual and lesbian marriages which highly offend our God of all. Their day is coming.

Obama has played the fool by taking his nation out from under God’s protection.

The USA is now over 10,000,000,000,000 in debt with no recovery in sight.

They are losing the war on drugs.

They are losing the war on crime.

Terrorist organizations including ISIS are bragging that they have imported their suicide bombers into many of the States and have them strategically positioned.

I have been told that 80% of the black people in the US are opposed to abortion. Yet 80% of them voted for Obama. Why? Not because he reflected their values. It was because he is black! When he was voted in black people danced in the streets of Kenya This is reversed racism. It is stupid beyond words. At this point language totally breaks down. Logic fails. This is worse than the mentality that put Hitler in office.

Nobody has ”power over God” in the sense that nobody MAKES God do anything.

However, when God does something good or bad it is for a reason.

God has chosen to bless or curse people depending on how they respond to His commandments. Some will think the word ”curse” is too strong. So for them allow me to simply paraphrase:

If we OBEY God GOOD things will happen. If we DISOBEY God BAD things will happen.

How you interpret this depends upon your perspective. Christians have a Biblical worldview. It should not be surprising that we see things from a Christian perspective.

There are many examples in the Bible, and many passages of scripture, that show God blesses, and protects from harm and evil, those who honor Him, and obey His commandments. But God has given us the freedom to choose which way our lives will go. We have the power to take ourselves out from under His protection.

We all know what the USA is all about but we speaking about sexual abuse in DOMINICA the report is valid and is just because it goes on all the time, why don’t you ask yourself this question.. why it is the Baroness had sexual abuse and corruption on the top of her list to investigate when she got into office April 1,2016 but after she came to Dominica and after that big party her agenda changed , but I’m please to see that the investigation into that trade continued and we all know where we stand.. OUR CHILDREN ARE OUR FUTURE AND WE MUST PROTECT THEM now if their parents friends or other member families do not believe them there is some place where they can turn too and don’t feel disgraced

Face the Facts, I am impressed with your comments on this story. You see outside of Skerrit you are able to write objectively and not subjectively and you define your cause and thought well. I think the poison is Skerrit. Once you Stay focus on the issue you write well. Stay away from Skerrit please and his corrupt Labour government. Stay focus on decent issues and on Dominica, she needs your help to clean it up from this corrupt lack of foresight government.

If I was doing something which was not right I would be thankful if somebody corrected me for my own good. The fact that the report use the word Domestic, you all running scared. A good confection is good for the soul.

In many countries, he noted, governments cracked down on the fundamental freedoms of expression and association by jailing reporters for writing critical stories, or sharply restricting or closing non-governmental organizations for promoting supposedly “foreign ideologies” such as universal human rights.

“We also note the troubling trend among some elected leaders who undermined existing democratic institutions, such as by taking steps to stifle opposition, circumvent the electoral process, and weaken judiciaries, often in an attempt to perpetuate their continued rule.”

“Corruption, often carried out with impunity, had a corrosive effect on democracy, respect for human rights, and the rule of law. Institutions lose credibility when people can no longer expect a fair and impartial judiciary to address their grievances, obtain basic government services without a bribe.

Oh look, the US policing the rest of the world. Human rights huh? Probably that LGBT***(so much garbage added on to the acronym) thing they most interested in pushing. They have enough crap going on with morality and the legal system, but sure go ahead and point fingers and publish crappy, finger pointing reports.

d-a born…I concur wholeheartedly. They should focus more on poverty, deprived families, education and opportunities. The most abused and impoverished people discriminated against in Dominica are poor single parents, poor deprived families and poor rural, urban deprived communities. Our communities are suffering due to poor governments, handouts policies creating unemployment, opportunities for families to earn own income, government scheme of handouts to earn loyalty for supremo. Dominica is NOT a developing country, it is stagnated.

It’s amazing that the reaction from so many is that the US should not release such a report b/c they too have violations. Is this the big takeaway here? Was the report written to say the US is perfect and all listed countries are horrid? Could this report not be used to inform donor agencies, civil society groups, governments etc in determining policy areas? Is there no benefit in having am agency research how PEOPLE are suffering around the world? Is like the inferiority complex of our leadership has taken over our country and as problematic as things are we cannot stand to be informed or reminded of the work we must undertake to improve ourselves. While things fall apart around us we choose to drink smoke sex sewo ourselves into obliviousness!

The headline makes it sound like Dominica is not a good place for human rights, when reading the entire report shows that in category after category Dominica is among the best countries in the world. Yes, they reported on sexual violence and domestic violence as a problem, and that’s a big deal, but that was the only area they reported on at all, and even then they said that it’s recognised by government and civil society as a problem.

Moreover, one might ask why the U.S. compiles reports about this on every other country, when their own human rights record is marginal, and when their close relationships with countries like Saudi Arabia demonstrate that when their interests are at stake they couldn’t care less about human rights.

“You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” — Matthew 7:5

“Domestic and sexual violence among top human rights abuses in Dominica – US State Department” What is the top Human rights abuse in America (USA)? Does the US State department rate the US? Who and what countries in the world are rating the US for its human rights abuses?

So who else will police the world, The Cuban, Russians, If you have 12 aircraft carrier and milltary bases, all over the world, you can point fingers, Maybe is time the caribbean nation, get the act together

The US can talk how much they want, but they lack the moral authority in this case. The US glorifies it’s position on same sex marriage and anyone has the right to decide which gender they belong to. So a man gets up one morning and decides he is going to be a woman for the day so he can have unfettered access to the women’s bathroom, this it what is happening in the US. The focus of this report is human rights violation as seen through the eyes of America and an attempt to persuade people to accept there very low moral standards.

This from a country that prides itself on destabilizing countries with NGO’S (Non government agencies), Starting Wars in countries that wont bow to its will, a country that kills black men for sport, a country who greatest export is Guns, Bullets, Bombs, death and destruction of other countries infrastructure!

What about the fact that America has turned its law enforcement, court system and prisons into a money making machine, holding people in prison who have not committed any crime.

Dominica know this! If you have any American NGO’S in the country, they are here to spy. They will be gathering up information so that they can work out who to bribe, manipulate and blackmail. We may not be perfect right now, but we didn’t get independence from the British to take from…

dno from what I know sexual intercourse always happens between a male and a female, anything else can’t be sexual intercourse. Animals don’t act in such abominable ways. So we humans have the right to discriminate against these thongs. Ask JAH!

Forrester this is not absolutely true and i guess you may not have read this section: This scientists research is not complete and they are ust unaware as to what it is or how best to describe it. Here is a piece from this article.

Bagemihl adds, however, that this is “necessarily an account of human interpretations of these phenomena”.[7] Simon LeVay introduced the further caveat that “[a]lthough homosexual behavior is very common in the animal world, it seems to be very uncommon that individual animals have a long-lasting predisposition to engage in such behavior to the exclusion of heterosexual activities. Thus, a homosexual orientation, if one can speak of such thing in animals, seems to be a rarity.”[

As far as nature, humans are concerned, the act of homosexuality is an abomination, unhealthy and dangerous to the rectum (obviously designed to pass waste). It is not a asexual organ and cannot produce anything other that waste.

There have been many cases of homosexual animals. Just to let you know. And generally speaking, Dominica is a hell hole for women. My one week marriage to a Dominican ended up with me on the ground and him jumping on my head with his boots on. People walking through the yard ignored my cries for help and just laughed and kept walking. That was my first experience of brutality in my entire life! This colored my opinion of Dominican men forever … Brutal, Ignorant and users of women. My husband didn’t even know his children’s names!!! That’s how close and involved he was in their lives. Sick!!!

Carol. it is disheartening to read what you had to endure at the hands of this monster. No human should have to experience that. Still, I would not colour all of our Dominican men with the same brush. There are the ignorant, brutal ones but I know many caring and compassionate Dominican men who would never ever abuse their women – physically, emotionally, sexually or any other way. I just wish these men of good character would lead and teach our boys how to be men, how to love and respect others. Otherwise, these problems will only continue to grow.

For a newly-wed his action is shocking, brutal, weird and unbecoming. I do not know who you are and what type of man you married. Man meets woman and under all types of circumstances and some soon get married without knowing much, if anything about the other other. It all depends on the reason why the partners got married in the first place. They must know why they got married. This type of behavior of a man appears to be someone who is extremely ignorant, badly brought up and who has no respect for women. He does not sound as a man who is from a certain class of the D/can society, if you know what I mean. Generally, couples should date for a while, get to know each other, get to know the family and know as much as they possibly could about each other. This spouse was abnormal and the lowest of the lowest. If he was anything good, he would not have acted in that manner. Know that all D/can men are not one and the same and should not all be judged the same.

Why did you marry a man with such a character. He did not know his children name before u were married so that should have been a sign. Everywhere has good and bad people, the us just have more due to population.

If u don’t want a Dominican man that is fine but don’t put all of us in the same category due ti your experiences.

Oh Carol, I am happily married, I cook, wash, iron, shop, chores etc. I will never hit my wife, let alone spank my children. I am so sorry what happened to you, a real case of brutality but you are so wrong and i guess apologise to us men for this generalised comment in particular of Dominican men, as if they are the ones who abuse their wives and women. My father never abused my mother his wife, typical to Dominica we grew up in large family. My father was exemplary and a good and loving father to us all. I travel internationally and I see and come across cases of machismo, brutality of men to women and it is more pronounced statistically to that of Dominica. So you have generalised a serious case needed to be condemned but appear to have labelled all Dominican men. In your pain, I do understand your outcry but you seriously need to get help to put this in perspective. It is wrong and also unfair to label all or most Dominican men. God luck, God bless and guide as a single parent.

You married a sick Dominican. You women want the rough and when you get rough you want to run. Any sane man would know their children names. That wouldn’t happen overnight. Sorry! I am married to a great Dominican man!

Animals also don’t use makeup, wear hear extensions, get haircuts, have courts of law, schools, churches etc. And by animals I am guess you mean non-human animals because in case you don’t know we are also animals

Homosexuality is found among animals. However, I suspect this “humping” may sometimes be copycat behavior and not have anything to do with actual sex.

Various types of mental illness and behavioural confusion is also found among animals. There is a field of study know as “animal psychology”. Animals also have a brain and central nervous system so we should expect some things to be the same.

There are some animals that eat their offspring. Does this make it normal or O.K. for humans?

Many of us do not think of human beings as animals. Christians believe we are God’s final and crowning act of creation – man – in God’s image and likeness. Similar to the apes? Yes! But definitely different.

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